Terms & Definitions
Clear explanations of technology types, assessment categories, and key terms used throughout the TRACER Level assessment process.
Food, Food Ingredients and Beverages
Technology category covering the formulation, processing, and preservation of drinkable products for human consumption such as fruit-based beverages, functional drinks, fermented products, plant-based alternatives, and ready-to-drink products.
- Calamansi, mango, or bignay juice concentrates
- Moringa, turmeric-ginger, or coco-based functional drinks
- Fermented fruit wines (duhat, bignay, tamarind)
- Kombucha produced from locally sourced tea or botanicals
- Coconut milk beverages and rice-based drink alternatives
Technologies that focuses on producing functional, nutritional, or flavor-enhancing components and its resulting products such as powders, extracts, isolates, and natural sweeteners derived from AANR resources.
- Malunggay powder, turmeric powder, ube powder as natural colorants or fortifiers
- Collagen or protein isolate from tilapia, shrimp, or other aquatic by-products
- Cassava, taro, or sweet potato starch as binders and stabilizers
- Coconut sugar, coco sap syrup, or natural sweeteners
- Prebiotic fibers extracted from coconut husk or banana peel
Technologies that are related to processing, preservation, formulation, or enhancement of edible products derived from agricultural, aquatic, and natural resources. Included in the scope of this category are novel or value-added food products, primary and secondary food processing, food preservation and packaging solutions, and process optimization technologies.
- Vacuum-dried jackfruit, Saba banana, or malunggay chips
- Smoked fish using improved or energy-efficient smoking kilns
- Fermented cacao tablea or enhanced bagoong processing
- Retort pouch ready-to-eat meals using local crops or fish
- Root crop–based bakery products (e.g., ube bread, camote flour bread)
Animal Feed, Feed Ingredients and Animal Nutrition
Technologies related to development, formulation, and processing of complete feeds that support the growth, health, and productivity of livestock, poultry, and aquatic species.
- Formulated extruded feeds for tilapia and bangus
- Pelletized complete feeds for poultry or swine
- Fermented complete feeds for ruminant
Technologies centered on strategies and formulations that optimize nutrient delivery, improve animal health, and enhance performance across terrestrial and aquatic species.
- Vitamin–mineral premixes tailored for specific species and growth stages
- Probiotic and prebiotic supplements
- Precision feeding strategies
- Functional nutrition technologies
Technologies related to raw materials or functional components used in feed manufacturing, such as meal, pellets, concentrates, or additives sourced from crops, by-products, or aquatic resources.
- Black soldier fly larvae meal
- Plant-based protein meals such as moringa leaf meal and copra meal
- Fish hydrolysates from processing by-products
- Natural feed additives such as enzymes, probiotics, or phytogenic extracts
Agri-Aqua Machinery and Facility
Technologies related to the development, design, and improvement of physical structures, production systems, and controlled environments that support agricultural and aquaculture operations.
- Greenhouses, screen houses, hydroponics and aquaponics systems
- Floating cages, fish ponds, raceways, hatchery systems, and nursery tanks
- Cold storage units, packing houses, slaughter facilities, and fish processing rooms
- Composting structures and effluent treatment systems
- Grain silos, feed storage rooms, and climate-controlled warehouses
Technologies related to the design, development, fabrication, and improvement of mechanical or electro-mechanical equipment used in agricultural and aquaculture operations.
- Rice transplanters, corn shellers, mini-tillers, and mechanical dryers
- Automatic fish feeders, aerators, water pumps, and seaweed dryers
- Mechanical forage choppers and manure handling systems
- Seed cleaners, fruit graders, vacuum dryers, and feed pelletizers
- Solar-powered irrigation pumps and solar dryers
Agri-Aqua Device and Diagnostic Kits
Technologies related to small-scale, portable, or non-motorized tools and instruments used to support agricultural and aquaculture operations.
- Hand-operated transplanting tools, seed meters, or soil moisture meters
- Water quality monitoring devices such as DO meters and salinity testers
- Simple sorting, grading, or measuring tools for crops or fish
- Low-cost feeders, traps, flotation devices, and net systems for aquaculture
- Portable sensors for temperature, humidity, or soil pH monitoring
Technologies related to the development of rapid, accurate, and user-friendly tools for detecting diseases, contaminants, pathogens, or physiological conditions in animals, plants, and aquatic species.
- Rapid test kits for fish pathogens
- Field test kits for livestock diseases
- Plant disease diagnostic kits
- Water quality test strips for ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite in aquaculture
- Mycotoxin or pesticide residue testing kits for grains and produce
ICT (Apps and System involving IoT)
Technologies referring to the development and application of digital tools, software, systems, and IoT solutions that improve data management, decision-making, monitoring, and operational efficiency in agriculture, aquaculture, and natural resource management.
- Farm management systems and mobile apps for crop, livestock, or aquaculture operations
- IoT-enabled sensors for soil moisture, temperature, water quality, or environmental monitoring
- Automated feeding, aeration, or irrigation systems connected to cloud-based platforms
- Decision-support systems for precision agriculture or aquaculture production
- Market information, traceability, and inventory management platforms
New Plant Variety
Technology related to the development, breeding, or genetic improvement of plants to produce varieties with enhanced traits such as higher yield, improved resistance to pests and diseases, better nutritional value, or adaptability to specific environments.
- High-yielding rice or corn varieties adapted to local conditions
- Disease-resistant banana, cacao, or tomato cultivars
- Drought-tolerant or salt-tolerant vegetable varieties
- Biofortified crops such as vitamin A-rich sweet potato or iron-rich rice
- Ornamentals with improved color, fragrance, or shelf life
New Animal Breed (Aquatic and Terrestrial)
Technologies related to the development, breeding, or genetic improvement of terrestrial and aquatic animals to produce breeds with enhanced traits such as higher productivity, disease resistance, environmental adaptability, or improved product quality.
- High-yielding or fast-growing poultry breeds (e.g., native chicken improvement programs)
- Disease-resistant or climate-adapted swine and cattle breeds
- Enhanced milk, meat, or egg-producing livestock breeds
- Improved tilapia, bangus, or shrimp strains for aquaculture
- Ornamental fish or shellfish with better growth, coloration, or stress tolerance
Natural Resource–Derived Materials
Technologies related to extraction, processing, modification, and application of materials derived from agricultural, aquatic, forest, mineral, and other natural resources for industrial, construction, packaging, energy, and allied applications.
- Bio-based construction materials such as compressed earth blocks and bamboo panels
- Natural fibers and composites such as abaca fiber composites and coconut coir boards
- Starch-based bioplastics from cassava and seaweed-based packaging films
- Engineered bamboo lumber, wood-plastic composites, and nipa shingles
- Chitosan from crustacean shells and calcium carbonate from seashell waste
TRACER Levels
Concept clearly defined; prior art searched; potential users, beneficiaries, and industry relevance identified.
Initial design, formulation, or system architecture developed. Preliminary user/market requirements assessed.
Working prototype created. Initial functional, analytical, or technical testing conducted. Industry relevance reassessed. IP protection initiated.
Prototype validated under controlled conditions. Performance confirmed. IP filed. Market viability assessed via secondary data. Potential industry partner identified.
Pilot-scale testing or semi-field trials conducted. User manuals or operation guides prepared. Initial industry meetings held. BMC completed. Promotion/demonstration conducted.
Agreements with industry partners secured. Performance validated under multiple conditions. Scalable manufacturing or propagation protocols prepared. Regulatory preparation initiated.
Successful industry-scale validation achieved. Standardized production/fabrication protocols established. Licensing intent secured. FTO, IP valuation, and commercialization plan prepared. Regulatory approvals initiated.
Full-scale commercial production validated and replicable. Regulatory approvals obtained. Licensing terms negotiated. Fairness opinion review requested.
Technology licensed. Product, system, material, plant, or animal breed fully commercialized and available to target users.
Terminologies
Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI) refers to a program funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). It is designed to support, mentor, and accelerate the development of spinoffs, startups, and entrepreneurs in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sectors. The program assists incubatees in commercializing research-based technologies, improving products and processes, and scaling their ventures into sustainable and competitive businesses.
Agribusiness Hub (ABH) is a project component of the RAISE Program of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). It serves as a regional one-stop hub dedicated to transforming research outputs into market-ready agri-aqua enterprises through pre-commercialization support. The ABH facilitates technology commercialization by providing assistance and enabling linkages among inventors, investors, and other key stakeholders. It aims to promote innovation-driven agribusiness development and support wealth creation across regions.
The initial phase of system or product testing conducted internally by the development team or a limited group of users in a controlled environment, aimed at identifying bugs, functional issues, and usability problems.
- Internal testing of a farm management app by developers and staff before pilot release
- Laboratory testing of a diagnostic kit prototype prior to field trials
Evaluation of a product or system by a limited group of external users under real-world conditions before full commercial launch, focusing on user feedback and performance validation.
- Pilot deployment of an IoT irrigation system to selected farmers
- Field trials of a new aquaculture feed formulation with partner farms
The Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a simple planning tool used to describe how a technology, product, or innovation will create value and generate income. It outlines the key components of a business, including the target customers, the value or benefit offered to them, how the product will be delivered, the resources and partners needed, and how revenue will be generated. In technology commercialization, the BMC helps researchers and institutions clearly visualize how their innovation can move from research to a sustainable business or licensing opportunity. Link to BMC Template: https://bit.ly/BMC-AANR
Market-driven use of a technology to generate value (e.g., product sales, licensing, or startup creation).
Use of a technology in real-world settings without market-based or profit-oriented activities (e.g., free use of longline mussel culture by farmers).
Sharing technologies or knowledge with end-users for adoption and capacity-building, without requiring licensing fees, royalties, or profit-sharing (e.g., free training on setting up longline mussel culture).
Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IP-TBM) refers to a network of offices established through funding support from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). These offices are tasked with protecting, managing, and commercializing intellectual property (IP) generated from research and development activities. Established in 2017, IP-TBM offices serve as one-stop hubs within state universities, colleges, and research institutions, particularly in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sectors, to facilitate IP management, technology transfer, and business development.
Pilot scale production refers to the intermediate stage between laboratory experimentation and full commercial manufacturing, involving a 10× to 100× increase in production volume relative to laboratory scale. This stage utilizes semi-industrial or near-commercial equipment to validate process stability, yield consistency, product quality, safety parameters, and preliminary cost efficiency under simulated real-world manufacturing conditions.
A potential industry partner is not limited to a company that will license the technology. It can be any industry willing to enter into an agreement, such as a Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA), Research Service Agreement (RSA), or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to test the technology at an industry scale or to help improve it for future large-scale production.